Duplex Apartment in Reuterkiez, Berlin

The clients’ penthouse apartment is located in the popular Reuterkiez neighborhood of Neukölln. When the large, older apartment below it came up for sale, the opportunity arose to combine both floors into a family-friendly living space. The apartments were so different in shape, size, and layout that a redesign and a unified design language were necessary. Today, when you enter the apartment on the 4th floor, you’re greeted by a spacious and bright entryway. The non-load-bearing walls were removed, and the kitchen and bathroom were gutted. The lower kitchen was moved to the side of the living areas. The upper kitchen was converted into a second bathroom. Instead of walls, a long built-in cabinet system structures the apartment, serving as a unifying element and recurring theme on both floors. In the entryway, where the cabinet isn’t quite floor-to-ceiling, daylight can stream into the hallway. Behind doors of varying widths lie the bathroom, utility room, and bedroom. At times, the cabinetry serves as a closet; at others, as a bench or the entrance to the staircase leading to the upper floor. Alternating between matte white and glossy finishes, the surface appears vibrant. The new hardwood floor harmonizes with the wide wood joints, the interior sides, and the horizontal surfaces of the cabinetry.